Patents by Inventor Ralph L. Charnley

Ralph L. Charnley has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4174169
    Abstract: An automatic anti-oxidation fluid replenisher system for processors of photosensitive material has an improved, digital electronic control system. The control system includes a digital binary counter which is counted down if use-related chemical replenishment is not occurring in the processor, and is counted up (generally at a different rate) if use-related chemical replenishment is occurring in the processor. When the counter reaches a predetermined value (e.g. zero), a detection circuit triggers anti-oxidation replenishment and resets the counter to its original value for further operation. A special circuit protects against counter roll-over should the counter reach its maximum capacity due to frequent chemical replenishment activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1979
    Assignee: Pako Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore A. Melander, Ralph L. Charnley
  • Patent number: 4128325
    Abstract: A replenisher system for photographic processors includes an automatic calibration system. A film sensor senses when film approaches the density sensor (and guarantees that the sensor is clear), and the automatic calibration system calibrates the density sensor (or other film parameter sensor) of the replenisher system prior to the film reaching the density sensor. The automatic calibration is performed each time a strip of film enters the processor, and reaches the density sensor, thereby assuring that drift and other variations in density sensor output unrelated to the film density are eliminated. In addition, the automatic calibration system provides a data valid signal after the density sensor has been calibrated to allow the replenisher control to accept the output signals from the density sensor and control the supply of replenisher fluid to the processor only for a limited time interval after calibration (i.e. while film is actually present in the density sensor).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1978
    Assignee: Pako Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore A. Melander, Ralph L. Charnley
  • Patent number: 4104670
    Abstract: An automatic replenisher system for photographic processors has an improved, digital electronic control. The control includes sensors and signal processing circuitry which provide a signal having a frequency indicative of a measured parameter (such as film density or film transport speed) which is associated with the operation of the processor. A counter counts in response to the variable frequency signal. The counter is interrogated at predetermined intervals, and an energizing signal is produced. The energizing signal has a time duration which is determined by the count in the counter at the time of interrogation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1978
    Assignee: Pako Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph L. Charnley, Clyde A. Kumpula
  • Patent number: 4057818
    Abstract: An automatic replenishing system for maintaining the chemical concentration of the liquid in a film processing tank, which automatically energizes a replenishing pump at regular timed intervals (e.g. every 30 seconds) regardless of whether or not the control circuitry indicates a need for replenishment, and which includes an element for sensing the density and velocity of the film and for producing a combined signal which controls the running time of the pump after each energization. The replenishing system also includes a second replenishing pump for maintaining the condition of the liquid in the processing tank, which second pump is energized automatically after a predetermined number of said regular timed intervals, or after a predetermined number of said regular timed intervals in which a zero film density or non-use condition has been detected for a preset running time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1977
    Assignee: Pako Corporation
    Inventors: Alfred J. Gaskell, Ralph L. Charnley
  • Patent number: RE31484
    Abstract: An automatic anti-oxidation fluid replenisher system for processors of photosensitive material has an improved, digital electronic control system. The control system includes a digital binary counter which is counted down if use-related chemical replenishment is not occurring in the processor, and is counted up (generally at a different rate) if use-related chemical replenishment is occurring in the processor. When the counter reaches a predetermined value (e.g. zero), a detection circuit triggers anti-oxidation replenishment and resets the counter to its original value for further operation. A special circuit protects against counter roll-over should the counter reach its maximum capacity due to frequent chemical replenishment activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1984
    Assignee: Pako Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore A. Melander, Ralph L. Charnley